FIA GT Championship

Phoenix Carsport on top in first practice at Adria

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat

The opening session of the FIA GT weekend at Adria could not be more different weatherwise than the previous round at Monza. Where it was pouring down at Monza the temperature almost hit 30 degrees centigrade this morning. After eighty minutes of action it was the number 5 Phoenix Carsport Corvette that was quickest.

Deletraz and Fässler, returning in time after his big shunt at Le Mans last weekend, headed home the 27 cars that took to the track this morning. Their Corvette C6.R was the only car that dipped below the 1:13 mark, setting a 1:12.980. Second quickest in the session was the number 33 Jetalliance Racing Aston Martin DBR9 of Wendlinger and Sharp, 0.031 seconds down (1:13.011), while Bertolini and Bartels took the number 1 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12 to third place in 1:13.204.

Quickest in the GT2 class was the number 50 AF Corse SRL Ferrari 430 GT of Vilander and Bruni. The Finnish/Italian pair set a 1:15.730, just enough to beat the number 61 Prospeed Competition Porsche 997 GT3 RSR of Collard and Westbrook. The works Porsche drivers set the second fastest time in 1:15.746, only 0.016 seconds slower than their rivals. Completing the GT2 top three was another Ferrari, the number 56 CR Scuderia car of Kirkaldy and Bell. The British duo set a 1:15.984.

In G2 only the Gillet Vertigo took part after the GTO - Charouz Racing Team Moslers pulled out of the event. GTO - Charouz Racing cited that until now they ran under Belgian GT regulations which made it impossible to be competitive in the G2 class. The team is looking at a solution, together with the FIA GT Bureau, and hopes to be back soon.